Food Safety of Cloned Animals

The Draft Animal Cloning Risk Assessment finds that meat and milk from adult clones of cattle, pigs, and goats, and their offspring, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals.

Brief Description:

The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) developed a draft risk assessment to evaluate the health risks to animals involved in the process of cloning and evaluate the food consumption risks that may result from edible products derived from animal clones or their progeny.

The draft risk assessment found that meat and milk from adult clones of cattle, pigs, and goats, and their offspring, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals.

AVMA Response:

The AVMA concurs that the cloning described in the draft risk assessment poses no food safety hazard. The AVMA commends the FDA for the scientific basis it maintains when formulating policies, including those that deal with the health of animals, the food supply, and public health.

Background Documents:

Status:

AVMA responded on March 28, 2007.

FDA has concluded that meat and milk from clones of cattle, swine, and goats, and the offspring of clones from any species traditionally consumed as food, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals. FDA, however, in its guidance for industry is recommending that edible products from clones from animals other than cattle, swine, or goat (e.g., sheep) not be introduced into the human food supply. Whereas the scientific data supports the safety of edible products from clones of cattle, swine, or goat, there is insufficient scientific data to reach this conclusion for edible products from other types of animals.